“DO you know, men, that during all my forty years at sea, I never once met a ship that wasn’t bound somewhere!” So spoke a sea captain as he addressed an audience of sea-faring men. A broad smile spread over their faces as the foolishness of the thought struck them. But their amusement quickly vanished as he utilized such an evidently foolish assertion to place an equally evident, though soul-searching truth before them.
“But would you believe it possible,” he continued, “that though during all my life’s voyage, I’ve never met a human ship (men like you and me) which wasn’t bound somewhere, yet when I’ve asked many of them what port they were bound for they couldn’t tell me—they hoped it was heaven!”
Just think this over, dear reader. How does this question touch you? What port are you bound for? That you are sailing onward on the sea of time is certain. Every day brings you closer to the end of your voyage down here. Your journey of life may end today, who can tell? “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” (Prov. 27:11Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1).) Statistics show that every day an army of about 90,000 souls or more are called by death to leave the world and enter eternity. You may be the next one that will be overtaken by death—and then what?
What port would your never-dying soul then enter? Would it be heaven or hell? These are the only two ports on the shore of eternity and you must enter one or the other. What port are you sailing for now? Are you sure of your destination, or are you merely floating about on the sea of time and carried onward to hell by every wind of pleasure and gust of the world’s fancies?
You need a Pilot to guide your ship, dear friend. And let me tell you, there is only one Pilot that can guide you safely on the journey of life and bring you to the port of heaven. That Pilot is the Lord Jesus Christ. He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6).)
He is not merely a pilot and guide, but He is the Way. He died on Calvary’s cross for you and shed His blood for the remission of your sins. You know it is sin that bars one from entering heaven, for no sin can enter there, and you are a sinner, for the Word of God says, “All have sinned” (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). But Christ died for sinners; He was made sin for us (Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8); 2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)), and thus He became the Way and the only Way for sinners to go to heaven. All who take their place as guilty sinners before Him, and by faith accept Him as their Saviour, Who died for their sins, receive a pardon, everlasting life, and are on their way to heaven. They have “boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living Way which He hath consecrated for us.” (Heb. 10:9-209Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (Hebrews 10:9‑20).)
Such is the wonderful Pilot that God has for poor, lost sinners who are drifting about or tempest-tossed on the sea of Time. Have you taken this Saviour Pilot into your ship? Surrender yourself to Him and take Him as your Lord and Saviour at once, if you have not already done so. “Now is the accepted time; behold now in the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2).)
He says to you, “Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him.” (Rev. 3:2020Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20).) He wants to enter your heart and be your Pilot; He knocks at your door and seeks entrance. Won’t you let Him in? Let Him in and you will be sure that you are bound for the port of heaven, for He says, “I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish,” (John 10:2828And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28)) and “Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).)
R.K.C.